O’Brien calls for RTE to publish legal advice

Speaking today, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Deputy Jonathan O’Brien called for RTE to publish the legal advice they received that led to them making payouts to a number of individuals after being threatened with defamation claims.

Deputy O’Brien said;

“Over the past few days we have heard the Managing Director of RTE claiming that it was not engaged in censorship after removing footage of Rory O’Neill referring to certain individuals as homophobes and further stating that the legal position regarding the defamation was far from clear.

“RTE receives significant public funding and as a result it is a matter of public interest that the legal advice it received is published in full.

“The payout from RTE has huge implications for the way in which debate is conducted on social issues on our airwaves, with small unrepresentative groups having the potential to set the parameters of what is acceptable debate.

“This case is unusual in that it has received far more attention than any other defamation claim levelled at RTE and as such, the public have a right to see the advice that RTE acted on.

“I am now calling for the Minister with responsibility for communications, to ensure that RTE publish the legal advice they received.”